In a surprising turn of events during the Rajya Sabha elections from the Karnataka assembly, BJP MLA ST Somashekhar, representing Bengaluru’s Yeshwantpur constituency, has reportedly cross-voted in favour of the Congress, delivering a significant blow to the BJP.
Defiance of Whip
Contrary to the BJP’s issued whip a day before the polls, summoning all 66 MLAs to the Chief Whip’s office after the polling, ST Somasekhar has openly defied the party’s directive and cast his vote for the Congress candidate.
Potential Consequences
BJP and JDS leaders have expressed their discontent with Somashekhar’s move. There are speculations of filing a formal complaint with Assembly Speaker UT Khader, urging action against the MLA for violating the party’s whip.
ST Somasekhar’s Justification
ST Somasekhar, after casting his vote, asserted that he voted in alignment with those who had committed to providing grants. CM Siddaramaiah responded by congratulating Somashekhar for his decision to support the Congress.
BJP Nominees
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has put forth a formidable lineup of candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections:
- Former Union minister RPN Singh
- Former MP Chaudhary Tejveer Singh
- Amarpal Maurya – General Secretary, BJP Uttar Pradesh unit
- Former state minister Sangeeta Balwant (Bind)
- Party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi
- Former MLA Sadhna Singh
- Former Agra mayor Naveen Jain
SP Contenders
The Samajwadi Party (SP) has strategically chosen its candidates to take on the BJP:
- Actor MP Jaya Bachchan
- Retired IAS officer Alok Ranjan
- Dalit leader Ramji Lal Suman
Voting Details
Polling commenced at 9:00 am and will conclude at 4:00 pm. Results are anticipated to be announced later tonight. The elections are poised to shape the representation in the Rajya Sabha, with both parties vying for a significant presence.
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